NGT6 1315

As similar calls for far more extensive 20 mph/30 kph limits in urban areas also exist here, I can attest to the effects such limits would have on public transport being a hotly discussed issue. If public transport (ideally powered sustainably at one point) is to be promoted over individual motoring, it should offer faster start-to-end travel times, which I don’t see happening under such circumstances when both buses and trams (which are subject to the same speed limits as other road users on on-street sections) would be so restricted.

Cheers all... A storm surge warning had been in effect for the North Sea coast on Monday and a gale warning been extended through Tuesday. Still, we braved the weather and drove out to Laboe, which is on the eastern shore of the Kiel Firth. It did turn out to be windy and showery indeed! Though there were sunny spells in between! Lots of sailboats and kite surfers were out on the water, too. Cargo vessel Annika Braren, built in 2020 and retrofitted with a Flettner rotor the year after. Good to see shipping is slowly becoming more sustainable, too. It's also interesting that this rotor was actually invented about a century ago. Some good things do take time... Laboe is also the location of the Naval Memorial. This was originally built 1927-1936 to commemorate German sailors lost at sea in WW1. Its dedication was later extended to fallen sailors of WW2, and in 1954 to encompass all sailors of the world and to promote peaceful navigation on all oceans for the benefit of all mankind. The memorial is intended to represent a submarine conning tower. Lighting could have been better here, but perhaps the stark contrast against the clouds actually fits the purpose of the site. With that said, its origins as a military memorial remain visible throughout. I do appreciate that the site, such as it exists today, also acknowledges problematic episodes in German history specifically, as exemplified by the following exhibit: Explaining the changing and even conflicting political ideas expressed by each of this multitude of past naval ensigns alone would be a fair challenge, for example. Note that for educational purposes, materials displaying otherwise illegal symbols such as the Nazi era ensign with swastika remain permitted. It is also worth mentioning that GDR flags such as the one on display here were similarly illegal in West Germany until July 1969. A collection of ensigns from naval institutions around the world to express the shared desire for peace at sea. There are two viewing platforms at the top of the memorial offering panoramic views of the coastline. A concourse opposite the memorial contains an exhibition of various warship models from about the 1870s until our time. Opposite the memorial itself is another noteworthy exhibit in the shape of U 995, the sole Type VIIC/41 U-boat still in existence. U 995 was commissioned in September 1943, transferred to the Norwegian navy after the war and continued to serve as a training and coastal defence craft from 1952 until 1965. As a gesture of reconciliation and with use as a museum in mind, it was returned to Germany and placed ashore outside the Laboe Naval Memorial in 1972. Restoration to its original condition remains an ongoing process as original components are understandably difficult to source, or even replicate. The boat can be walked through from stern to bow, so I'll just leave the following photos without comment as an illustration of how far removed from any degree of idealisation this part of history must have been for everyone involved. May such times never befall us again, is all I can offer as a concluding statement.

Cheers all from oop narf! We headed to my mum and dad‘s today to spend a couple of days here. Thankfully, Mum seems alright after everything she’s been through, though she still needs much rest and currently goes to bed around 9 pm. Which I fully understand, as I do the fact that she seems to have a need for catching up with proper sleep. I do know that deep sedation is no equivalent to actual sleep, but seeing such things happen to a close relative really drives home the point. With that said, everything that counts is that she‘s here and recovering with no lasting damage! The AICD implantation was no major issue, though of course she requires a number of follow-up checks in the coming weeks. She also had two ribs cracked from the reanimation, which obviously is still a lot better than a different outcome, shall we call it… She also says she has no real recollection of anything which happened roughly between the day before the incident and the time when she came to in hospital. Oddly, she also seems to now remember all sorts of events which had occurred decades ago but which had seemed to have faded from memory. Which probably illustrates how the human mind can deal with such extreme situations. I‘ll call it a night now, I think. Stay safe.

Cheers all. May I just leave this here… BSG was such a great show indeed…

Moaning awl. Lotta rain yesterday! Mum has continued to improve and the plan is for her to get an AICD implanted soon. The hospital in Rendsburg she's in received several new patients yesterday, though, so it's still open whether that will happen today. I gather that of all the possibilities which were being investigated, a cardiac arrhythmia of some description seems to have remained as the most likely cause. Stay safe, everyone. Later... 👋

I personally am not sure either these pretend meats with heaps of artificial ingredients are as beneficial at the end of the day as they are so often promoted to be. Of course, I’ll leave it to anybody to decide what to eat, and correspondingly expect the same respect in return. I‘ll also have to agree that vegetarian meals from India or other parts of Asia appeal to me a lot more than what is usually offered in Western cuisines.

Moaning awl... First up, Mum has been improving further. A cardiac catheter check is planned for either today or tomorrow, as the cause for the cardiac arrest has remained elusive. She has asked for books and crosswords to pass the time too, which I'd certainly see as further positive signs! She'll likely have to remain in for at least another week and still has no memories from last Friday until she had been somewhat coherent. I wonder if that may actually be for the better at this time. Other than that, not very much going on here. Nights have been somewhat rough as Mum's condition has, of course, remained on my mind. Thankfully, it's cooled down quite a bit. Might be cooking a Cape Malay chicken and prawn curry tonight. Stay safe, everyone...

Ah, mate, jus' a trip around the block.

Evening all. Just saying thanks for all your support really doesn't seem enough, but I thoroughly mean it! It seems like Mum is slowly coming to. Given the heavy sedation, this may take several days (probably has to in order to avoid further problems), but Dad informed me she was attempting to adjust her position in bed and reacting to her surroundings. It's still unclear what caused this emergency to develop in the first place. Further tests will be run after the weekend, though I understand that there's an even-money chance there may never be a definitive answer in such cases. May I also use this opportunity to thank the paramedic team who I gather were on site within five minutes at most. However unlikely it may be that any of them should end up on this forum - cheers. I can tell you that the past nearly-two days have been an experience I could rather do without, and sincerely hope I won't have to go through again. Being so anxious yet helpless to do anything at the same time will definitely deplete your reserves, no matter how well-composed you are. I'll keep you updated, of course.

Moaning awl. Very worried here as my mum had to be taken to hospital following cardiac arrest. That's about all I know right now, though.

What's this water falling from the sky right now, I wonder…?

Moaning awl. Belated HB to Baz indeed! Overcast sky right now. The roofers (yes) arrived yesterday to fit the support frames for the photovoltaic panels and other ancillary elements. Also interesting that a roofing company has added PV installations to their portfolio, though on reflection, it does make sense. Of course, integration into the house grid will have to be carried out by an electrician. The roofers manage all of these subcontracts, which is fine with us. I'm also happy to report that my refresher training is now complete and I've had my tram license reissued - these now being plastic cards rather than paper. I hope that this means an end to this embuggerance and that certain people will remain shut up from now on. Caffeination still incomplete, so, ta for now… 👋

Concerning the level of b*ll*cks in today‘s society, this bloke caused a bit of chaos this afternoon because he simply stood there on the line, undressed up to his undies and wouldn’t move. Photo from one of the staff present. The clown emoji for anonymity seems quite apt really. I believe he was taken away by police but we were past the location when the situation was resolved.

Not much different with Ze Highly Esteemed Deutsche Öffentlichkeit nowadays either!

I like Japanese buckwheat noodles quite a lot. They match umami flavours very well and retain a nice bite that’s just right, to my mind.

I may have mentioned this song to resonate with me…

May I just leave this here… 🙈 Hallelujah!

Moaning awl. No longer quite scorchio here, thankfully! I'm almost through with my refresher course now. Here's deffo hoping that this will conclude the fracas of the past one and a half years (geez) for good... Scaffolding work currently ongoing on the house as we're getting a PV system fitted soon. The largest part of the roof is facing pretty much to the south, so that should yield a decent power output. There'll be a storage battery installed in the basement, too. I'll be off for work by about 1200. Some groceries will need to be obtained as well, so I'm in no rush really. Be safe, everyone… 🫡

Where's the yikes button? Moaning awl. Long time no see as I've been quite busy! Refresher course has progressed well so far and I'll be taking the practical test tomorrow. I can't stress enough that our training department has been very helpful during the past few weeks, which certain other parts of the company rather ought to take notice of! Other than that, scorchio is once again the motto of the day. Thunderstorm came and went some time around 0300 but it's still predicted to be hot with a chance of further thunder until the weekend. Stay safe, everyone. I'll try to say hi more frequently, honest...

Cheers all. Unwinding with a wee dram! Yes, I do know it's fiction, but, suppose the 1920s equivalent of clubbing did actually look like that? I wonder if the fashion from that period might yet be rebooted all the same, too! Congrats and commies as appropriate, especially to everyone under the weather...

Cheers all. Still dealing with the aftereffects of a migraine yesterday, so not really much to say. Thought for the night: If only we could settle our terrestrial disputes once and for all and dedicate ourselves to striking out to these wondrous distant shores... If only indeed. Alas...

Moaning awl. There’s not even a coffee maker here! A BBQ might be in the cards this weekend if the weather holds. Elise has voiced an interest in a trip to the garden centre too, so that’s what might be up tomorrow. Well, if we‘re there in time, we might avoid the mad rush I expect there to be on a sunny weekend. Ta…

Moaning awl. Too frellin' early! I'm now on my tram refresher course, so things have gotten moving indeed at long last. All of this could have been avoided if some elements hadn't been as abusively minded as they have, of course... Recaffeination still ongoing, so I'll leave it at that for now. Be safe, everyone. Ta...

I have that Find My Car function through the Toyota app as well.

Bet this is what the Pursuit Special would look like if the Mad Max franchise had been launched recently instead of 1979? Yeah, with a silly supercharger sticking up beyond rooftop height, I know… 🤣